Shaheen, Nawaz and Babar star as Pakistan hammer Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to win tri-series final

Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz took three wickets each, and Babar Azam guided the chase as Pakistan went on to take a thumping win over Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the tri-series final in Rawalpindi on Saturday, November 29.

The victory capped off a dominant run for Pakistan, who have now won 21 out of 34 T20Is this year — their most in a single calendar year. Throughout the tournament, they adjusted better to the conditions, showed discipline with the ball, and displayed clarity in their batting plans. The final only reinforced the gulf between the two sides.

Sri Lanka had started brightly. After being sent in, they reached 84 for 1 in the 11th over, thanks largely to Kamil Mishara, who came into the contest with back-to-back fifties and looked in command again. For a brief moment, Sri Lanka appeared set to avoid their recurring middle-order troubles and build towards a competitive total.

What followed, though, was a collapse that bordered on bewildering. It began with Kusal Mendis holing out to Nawaz, and from there Sri Lanka’s innings fell apart spectacularly. They lost eight wickets for just 16 runs, a stretch of play that exposed both poor shot



selection and a lack of composure under pressure. Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub created the initial squeeze, exploiting whatever little grip the surface offered, before Shaheen and Mirza Baig wrapped up the tail.

Conditions in Rawalpindi were far from unplayable. There was turn, but nothing Sri Lanka — historically strong players of spin — should have struggled with. Instead, panic set in quickly, leaving Mishara stranded and helpless as partners threw their wickets away. The total of 115 on a 150-type pitch always felt well short.

Pakistan approached the chase with maturity. The openers provided a measured start, and once Babar Azam settled in, the result felt inevitable. His calm presence ensured there was no room for drama as Pakistan moved steadily towards the target. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, especially their spinners, struggled to create any pressure and rarely threatened breakthroughs.

The triumph adds another chapter to Pakistan’s strong record in tri-series finals, following wins over Australia (2018), New Zealand (2022), and Afghanistan (2025). Their performance in Rawalpindi was complete, confident, showing they can be a solid side when on song.